The Importance of Using Emotional Regulation Strategies in the Classroom
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As you know, your classroom is not just a place to teach students how to read and write– it’s also a safe haven where students develop important life skills including emotional regulation. Let’s dive into why emotional regulation is crucial for students and some of the most helpful emotional regulation strategies you can teach them.
Why Do Students Need Emotional Regulation?
Emotional regulation is the cornerstone of healthy social and emotional development. Just like you teach students how to read a clock and answer journal prompts, you need to equip them with tools to effectively navigate their feelings.
In your classroom, emotional regulation allows students to:
- Manage behaviors
- Improve learning
- Build relationships
Manage Behaviors
When children learn to regulate their emotions, they are better equipped to control impulsive behaviors. When less disruptive or unkind behaviors are happening in your classroom, all students can focus on learning more easily!
Improve Learning
Emotional regulation also empowers students to concentrate, solve problems, and remember information. A calm mind is ready to absorb knowledge and engage with others in meaningful ways.
Build Relationships
When students understand and know how to manage their different emotions, they develop empathy, positive communication skills, and effective problem-solving skills. Each of these skills is so important for healthy peer interactions and friendships.
Why Teach Emotional Regulation Strategies to Students
Teaching students to identify their emotions is the first step in this process but it can’t stop there– they must know how to manage them! Emotional regulation strategies are the tools students need to be able to effectively manage behaviors, improve learning, and build positive relationships.
These strategies empower students, foster independence, and normalize feeling different emotions. By teaching students specific strategies to manage emotions, you are giving them proactive and preventative ways to experience emotional well-being.
Emotional Regulation Strategies and Tools
The good news is there are SO MANY great strategies and tools you can teach and share with your students that will provide great benefits to them.
- Social skills stories
- Relaxation exercises
- Mindfulness moments
- Visuals
Social Skills Stories
A social skills story is an individualized short story that describes and explains appropriate behavior and gives examples of appropriate responses. These stories help students understand certain skills or situations that might often provoke big feelings.
Children feel more prepared when they know what to expect or how to appropriately respond to changes or big emotions.
Check out this Social Skills Story about Separation Anxiety! It can also be found in the Emotional Regulation Strategies Bundle with several other helpful social skills stories and activities.
*Read more about what social skills stories are and how they can help create a positive classroom environment for you and your students.
Relaxation Exercises
Teach students different breathing and muscle relaxation exercises that they can use to calm their bodies and minds when they have big emotions.
You can find helpful, done-for-you cards to practice and use with students in the Emotional Regulation Strategies Bundle!
Mindfulness Moments
Teach students to be mindful of their feelings. Many times in our daily lives, and even during the school day, things are just SO BUSY.
Mindfulness moments are about taking a few minutes to relax one’s mind and really focus on how they are feeling. These moments can look different for everyone based on their needs and interests.
Ideas for Mindfulness Moments
- Yoga
- Arts and crafts
- Reflective writing
- Listening to calming music
- Going for a walk
Visuals
Visual supports like schedules, charts, and cues are another great way to help students regulate their emotions. Visuals provide additional ways for students to understand and anticipate daily activities. They also enhance communication, help students know what to expect throughout the day, and reduce anxiety.
Set your students up for success to work independently and complete the tasks they are given with these FREE visual supports! Just fill out the form below to grab them.
Emotional Regulation Bundle
This Emotional Regulation Bundle has everything you need to teach emotional regulation strategies to your students!
The bundle includes engaging social skills stories and easy-to-use activities that cover these 7 very common behavior-related topics:
- self-control
- using words instead of crying
- calm down strategies
- elopement/running away
- problem-solving
- separation anxiety
- feelings and emotions
By incorporating these social skills stories and activities into your classroom routine, you can provide students with the tools they need to manage different emotional experiences effectively and easily!
This resource is ideal for cultivating a classroom environment that fosters healthy management of emotions, social skills, and decision-making. Because it’s so comprehensive, reusable, and substitute-friendly, teaching emotional regulation will be a breeze!
Fostering emotional regulation in the classroom is a fundamental aspect of teaching! As you teach students to understand, manage, and express their emotions in healthy ways, you’re equipping them with skills that will go with them for LIFE! Now, pat yourself on the back for prioritizing your students’ emotional well-being, and keep being the amazing teacher you already are! I’m rooting for you always.
Let me know if you have any questions about anything you see here. Don’t forget to pin this post to refer to it later!
Other posts you may enjoy:
11 ENGAGING Ways to Teach Social-Emotional Learning in the Classroom
7 Successful Strategies for Teaching Respect of Personal Space to Kids
How Social Skills Stories Build the Positive Classroom Climate You Are Craving
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Diane Romo
Thank you for being here! I love sharing ideas with other teachers! If you are looking to enhance your teaching and build a positive classroom community, you have come to the right place!
